Biodefense Priorities in Life‐science Research: Chemical Threat Agents

Abstract

AbstractChemicals pose a threat to the United States military and civilian populations because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, and have the potential to cause mass casualties if released by accident, natural disaster, or by a deliberate act. Chemical threat agents include nerve agents, vesicating or blister agents, pulmonary agents, and blood agents or metabolic poisons. The traditional chemical warfare agents include the organophosphorus nerve agents such as sarin and VX, and the mustard vesicating agents. These remain in several stockpiles around the world. Toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) manufactured, stored, and transported across the nation are not regulated as strictly as traditional warfare agents, and many are stored in large amounts and are readily available. Unfortunately and unlike biological and radiation threats, there are many examples of human suffering and death after deliberate releases of chemical welfare agents (CWAs) (sarin, sulfur mustard) and TICs (cyanide, chlorine). Requirements for an effective response to a civilian chemical event include (i) post exposure treatments that are effective within an often short therapeutic time window, (ii) drugs and devices that can be used by medical personnel at the scene of the event or in a pre hospital setting to treat many victims, (iii) drugs and devices that are appropriate for a diverse population including pediatric and elderly victims, and individuals with preexisting medical conditions, and (iv) rapid and effective diagnostic technologies to determine the chemical agent and pathophysiology. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed a research program called Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) to develop new and improved diagnostic technologies and therapies. This program has identified several new opportunities to develop better medical intervention strategies that treat the most severe symptoms, and broad spectrum drugs that target common physiological mechanisms of injury that could be used to treat victims exposed to many different kinds of chemicals. CounterACT and other programs at Department of Health and Humman Services (DHHS) charged with this important goal are essential to national security and will require strong support to meet the challenges ahead. It will require a commitment that is consistent with the cost and time required for drug discovery and development, and should support research at the basic, translational, and clinical levels.